FL- Miami archdiocese accused of cover up

FL- Miami archdiocese accused of cover up

A civil lawsuit accuses Father Daniel Kubala of the Miami archdiocese with making two unwanted sexual advances towards a man and accuses Catholic officials of hiding the alleged assaults.

The alleged crimes happened in April. The police were notified in April. The civil lawsuit was filed in April. But Archbishop Thomas Wenski delayed telling anyone about these serious allegations for at least three weeks (maybe longer).

And as best we can tell, Wenski has only told Fr. Kubala’s current parishioners. There’s no notice on the archdiocesan website. There are no alerts to other parishes where Fr. Kubala worked. There’s no news conference or news release to the secular Miami area media.

Why does this matter?

First, because it’s what America’s bishops have repeatedly promised: to be “open and transparent” in clergy sex cases. Belatedly telling a tiny portion of his 1.3 million parishioners about two or more alleged sexual assaults by a priest is not “open and transparent.”

Second, because every delay, every hour of secrecy gives accused criminals more chances to destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, discredit whistleblowers, fabricate alibis, and even flee the country. Every hour serious accusations of clergy sexual misconduct are kept quiet, other innocent children and vulnerable adults are left in harm’s way.

We hope every person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Fr. Kubala – or any Miami cleric – will speak up. We hope they will call police, expose wrongdoing, protect others, start healing and deter cover ups.